Jones made 31 saves in his seventh consecutive win to begin his NHL career, and Toffoli had a goal and an assist in the Kings' 4-1 victory over the Sharks on Thursday night.

But Hertl, who is second on the team in goals and fifth in points, didn't return to the game after a knee-to-knee hit late in the first period by Kings captain Dustin Brown, who was ejected.

"It's tough," Sharks captain Joe Thornton said. "I didn't see the play. I don't know how long he's going to be out."

After their right knees connected, Hertl dropped his equipment and limped to the bench, and coach Todd McLellan offered little update afterward, saying only it's "not a good thing."

Antti Niemi stopped 28 shots on a miserable night for the Sharks, who have lost six of eight while falling off the pace set by their two Southern California rivals, who have two of the NHL's four best records.

The Sharks hold a 10-9 edge in the high-competitive series over the past four seasons, during which each team has won a playoff series over the other. But the home team has won 15 straight games between the teams, including all seven in the Kings' second-round playoff victory last spring.

Los Angeles' win was its eighth in nine games to cap a 15-2-4 stretch since Nov. 2.

Jones' shutout streak ended at 133 minutes, 26 seconds, but Patrick Marleau's goal with 2:10 to play was just the sixth Jones has allowed in his club-record 7-0 start. Jones has been keeping the Kings on a roll without injured starter Jonathan Quick since his debut Dec. 3.

Jones is the first goalie since the 1938-39 NHL season to record three shutouts in his first six starts and is one victory shy of Bob Froese's league record 8-0 start.